The healthy kitchen

Smart tips and food safety

Don't let your kitchen get in the way of your healthy eating habits. Make it a kitchen that helps you meet your goals by following these smart tips.

Set up your kitchen for success

Keep tempting foods out of the house. Have healthy substitutes handy such as fruits and vegetables. Make cut vegetables and fresh fruit the first thing you see when you open your refrigerator so you aren't tempted by less healthy options.

Buy less-healthy foods in smaller portions and don't eat directly out of the package. Most people will eat more from a big package than from a smaller one. If you do buy large bags, repack the food into sandwich bags when you get home from the grocery store.

For many families, the kitchen is the room for hanging out, watching TV, catching up, and doing homework. This also makes snacking easy. Make another room in your house the "hang-out" or family room.